Poor oral hygiene may give rise to problems during pregnancy. Therefore, maintaining good oral hygiene is a must during this period. Read on to learn more about the importance of oral hygiene during pregnancy.You are likely to eat and drink frequently all day while you are pregnant, which can cause an increased risk for cavities with the frequent sugar intake. You may develop red, puffy gums due to the additional amount of progesterone hormone in your body causing strong reaction with normal amounts of plaque. These can affect the health of your developing baby. So it is important to maintain oral hygiene during pregnancy. In this articleHow Does Oral Health Get Affected during Pregnancy?How Does My Oral Health Affect My Baby?How Can I Take Care of My Oral Health?How Are Food Habits Related to Oral Hygiene?When Should You Visit the Dentist?How Does Oral Health Get Affected during Pregnancy?The increase in estrogens and progesterone can cause your gum tissues to aggravate a normal reaction to plaque, which if not removed regularly can increase your risk of gingivitis, a condition with symptoms of swollen, red and tender gums that are more likely to bleed. If not taken care of at an early stage, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, a more serious form of gum disease. You may also be at a risk for developing pregnancy tumours or non-cancerous growths that develop due to disturbed swollen gums. They have a raspberry-like appearance and bleed easily.How Does My Oral Health Affect My Baby?Gum disease in mothers is linked with premature birth and low birth weight in babies. Excessive bacteria, which can enter your bloodstream through gums, can travel to the uterus, inducing the production of prostaglandins, which are considered to trigger premature labour. Even the non-cancerous growths or tumors can travel through the placenta and cause serious health problems in your baby.How Can I Take Care of My Oral Health?Here is what you can do to take care of your oral health during pregnancy.Brush your teeth at least twice a day and gargle after each meal if possible to remove plaque.Replace your toothbrush every three months.Daily scape or brush your tongue to help remove bacteria.Floss your teeth thoroughly every day to remove food debris from in between the teeth.Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse as prescribed by your doctor, which can help prevent gingivitis.Eat a well-balanced diet.If you are feeling nauseous, change your toothpaste to one having a bland taste.If brushing early morning is worsening your nausea, use an anti-plaque mouth rinse which is prescribed by your doctor as an alternative.How Are Food Habits Related to Oral Hygiene?Food habits matter to maintain oral hygiene. You have to eat nutritious meals and healthy snacks. Your diet should contain calcium-rich foods, such as dairy products, yogurt, and cheese. Yogurt has good microbes as well. These foods are good for the development of your baby’s teeth, gums, and bones. You should avoid sugary and sweetened foods. Too much of sugar may lead to tooth decay, so it is better to avoid them. You should also avoid smoking and other forms of tobacco which is anyway not good for you and your baby during pregnancy.When Should You Visit the Dentist?It is advisable to get your teeth professionally cleaned, gum tissue carefully examined, and any oral health issues treated in advance of your pregnancy. Thus, you should try to make a dental appointment before getting pregnant or right at the first trimester. While you are pregnant, visit your dentist for regular check-ups and cleaning. Also, contact your dentist if you notice red, tender, puffy gums, bleedy gums, loose gums, and loose teeth. Tell your dentist the names and dosages of all drugs your doctor has prescribed for you so that your dentist, based on this information, may need to alter your dental treatment plan.It is advisable to postpone your dental treatments until after the babys birth unless there is an emergency. The best time for any dental treatment is 4-6 months. You must avoid routine or elective x-rays during pregnancy, as they are dangerous for your baby’s health. It is best to consult your doctor during emergencies that require anaesthesia or prescribed medications or any other emergency dental treatments for which you cannot wait till your baby’s birth. Do not undergo any dental treatment without informing your dentist that you are pregnant.How to take right oral care during pregnancy? What is the importance of oral hygiene during pregnancy? What are the effects of poor oral hygiene during pregnancy? Discuss here.
Poor oral hygiene may give rise to problems during pregnancy. Therefore, maintaining good oral hygiene is a must during this period. Read on to learn more about the importance of oral hygiene during pregnancy.You are likely to eat and drink frequently all day while you are pregnant, which can cause an increased risk for cavities with the frequent sugar intake. You may develop red, puffy gums due to the additional amount of progesterone hormone in your body causing strong reaction with normal amounts of plaque. These can affect the health of your developing baby. So it is important to maintain oral hygiene during pregnancy.
How Does Oral Health Get Affected during Pregnancy?
The increase in estrogens and progesterone can cause your gum tissues to aggravate a normal reaction to plaque, which if not removed regularly can increase your risk of gingivitis, a condition with symptoms of swollen, red and tender gums that are more likely to bleed. If not taken care of at an early stage, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, a more serious form of gum disease. You may also be at a risk for developing pregnancy tumours or non-cancerous growths that develop due to disturbed swollen gums. They have a raspberry-like appearance and bleed easily.
How Does My Oral Health Affect My Baby?
Gum disease in mothers is linked with premature birth and low birth weight in babies. Excessive bacteria, which can enter your bloodstream through gums, can travel to the uterus, inducing the production of prostaglandins, which are considered to trigger premature labour. Even the non-cancerous growths or tumors can travel through the placenta and cause serious health problems in your baby.
How Can I Take Care of My Oral Health?
Here is what you can do to take care of your oral health during pregnancy.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day and gargle after each meal if possible to remove plaque.
Replace your toothbrush every three months.
Daily scape or brush your tongue to help remove bacteria.
Floss your teeth thoroughly every day to remove food debris from in between the teeth.
Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse as prescribed by your doctor, which can help prevent gingivitis.
Eat a well-balanced diet.
If you are feeling nauseous, change your toothpaste to one having a bland taste.
If brushing early morning is worsening your nausea, use an anti-plaque mouth rinse which is prescribed by your doctor as an alternative.
How Are Food Habits Related to Oral Hygiene?
Food habits matter to maintain oral hygiene. You have to eat nutritious meals and healthy snacks. Your diet should contain calcium-rich foods, such as dairy products, yogurt, and cheese. Yogurt has good microbes as well. These foods are good for the development of your baby’s teeth, gums, and bones. You should avoid sugary and sweetened foods. Too much of sugar may lead to tooth decay, so it is better to avoid them. You should also avoid smoking and other forms of tobacco which is anyway not good for you and your baby during pregnancy.
When Should You Visit the Dentist?
It is advisable to get your teeth professionally cleaned, gum tissue carefully examined, and any oral health issues treated in advance of your pregnancy. Thus, you should try to make a dental appointment before getting pregnant or right at the first trimester. While you are pregnant, visit your dentist for regular check-ups and cleaning. Also, contact your dentist if you notice red, tender, puffy gums, bleedy gums, loose gums, and loose teeth. Tell your dentist the names and dosages of all drugs your doctor has prescribed for you so that your dentist, based on this information, may need to alter your dental treatment plan.It is advisable to postpone your dental treatments until after the baby's birth unless there is an emergency. The best time for any dental treatment is 4-6 months. You must avoid routine or elective x-rays during pregnancy, as they are dangerous for your baby’s health. It is best to consult your doctor during emergencies that require anaesthesia or prescribed medications or any other emergency dental treatments for which you cannot wait till your baby’s birth. Do not undergo any dental treatment without informing your dentist that you are pregnant.How to take right oral care during pregnancy? What is the importance of oral hygiene during pregnancy? What are the effects of poor oral hygiene during pregnancy? Discuss here.
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